Programming note: We’re seriously thinking of rebranding this newsletter (including the Substack URL) to The Esports Advocate. The goal of The Fudge Retort and People on the Move was always was to be a lead in to a full-fledged website about the business of esports, and we have accomplished that goal.
Now it’s really up to you, dear readers, what we offer going forward. We will continue to use this newsletter to deliver the weekly People on the Move content and the occasional news alert, but the real question is, do you want more? Do you want a weekly newsletter recapping the biggest esports news of the week (from everyone, not just TEA) or even a daily dispatch? Let me know, and will think about making that stuff happen!
PS: If you haven’t yet, check out the first edition of the new TEA new series, The Path, featuring young talent manager Reed Rosen. It’s a great story!
Now onto this week’s news - James Fudge.
Movers and Shakers
Toa Dunn Exits Riot Games
Toa Dunn, who spent nearly a decade at Riot Games—most recently heading up all things music and entertainment-related at the League of Legends and Valorant maker—announced that he was leaving the company for new opportunities. If there was a major deal related to music or entertainment at Riot, Dunn was an integral part of making it happen. It is unclear who will fill Dunn’s role after leaves or where he is headed next.
Matthew Potthoff Joins PIVOT Agency
One of the last people to leave eUnited before it closed at the end of 2022 was Matthew “Burns” Potthoff, who served as VP of esports at the Los Angeles-based esports organization. Now Potthoff has found a new gig at LA-based sports marketing agency PIVOT where he’ll bring his expertise as a former Call of Duty player, coach, and executive at eUnited to help the agency grow its existing work in the sector. TEA talked to Potthoff about the new gig and what he learned while at eUnited that will be important in his new role at PIVOT.
People on the Move
Here is this week’s list of promotions, hires, and departures in the gaming/esports industry:
Esports:
Irina Crudu joins LeagueSpot as VP of publishing.
Scott Harter joins SteelSeries as its new head of publisher & software partnerships.
Viktor Romaniuk Wanli takes on an additional role as chief experience officer at Kinguin.
Marco Niemann leaves his role as vice president of commercial at Freaks 4U Gaming GmbH.
Isaac Waller joins eFuse as a graphic designer (he previously worked at eUnited).
WME hires former Twitch exec Ben Lindemer and former Team Liquid exec Jake Schwartz to shore up its esports operations.
Divyanshu Saksena starts a new position as campus ambassador at GoodGameNation.
Marc Urbino joins FlyQuest as creative director.
Justin Joseph joins Complexity Gaming as a content creator.
Ayrton Travina takes on the role of head of creative initiatives at StreamElements.
Melia Anguiano joins Team Liquid as a talent manager.
Austin Digby is named the director of esports at the University of Mount Union.
Rachel Smith leaves her role as esports community manager for Hi-Rez Studios' SMITE Pro League and as the stream team manager for both SMITE and Paladins.
Gaming:
Yoon joins the Valorant team at Riot Games as a concept artist.
Corey Rosemond joins Google as the new director of multiplatform gaming.
Rishi Menon is named technical QA specialist at PUBG Corporation.
Puspal Bag starts a new role as director at Lets Game Now.
Rebecca Rettig joins Polygon Labs as chief policy officer.
Andrew Silver joined Wild Blue Studios this week as its senior art director.
Other:
William Lucas has accepted the position of director of sales at OTK Media.
Jody Rones joins GAMURS Group as chief revenue officer.
Kate Gray is no longer with Nintendo Life.
Nick Bell is named CEO of Fanatics Live.
Dana Walden and Alan Bergman are tapped to oversee the new Disney Entertainment unit.
Julie McMullen starts a new position as technical designer at USA Weightlifting.
In Other News
🚫 UK watchdog says “probably not” to Microsoft acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
👋🏼 Fnatic exits Dota Pro Circuit in Southeast Asia.
🙅🏼♀️ TSM and FURIA are leaving Free Fire Mobile esports in Brazil.
🎲 India bans a bunch of apps it considers “gambling.”
💃🏼 The State of Texas attempts to ban TikTok.
📰 Former Washington Post esports reporter launches his own newsletter.
🤝🏼DKB is named the main partner of Prime League.